Trip Planning - is it cheaper DIY?

[lisagirlyUK]

I tried to plan a trip for this year DIY but my mum got it much cheaper in the end through TCD - dunno why - maybe because it was August and all flights were expensive!

I am thinking of planning something just for me an H for an off peak time. Can anyone recommend any sites for cheap flights /hotels/car hire

Thanks

 

[liferiley]

for flights i went to travelbag.com who had a search engine,i hav'nt got accomadation yet but i will be using hotwire.com or priceline.com.i booked through tcd this year and thought i had paid too much.it is true that flights are expensive to the states but once you are there accomadation comes for nothing.through tcd this year my accomadation cost around £600,when i got to my hotel there advertised rates were $37 a night,per room,roughly £260 for our stay,and there was many people coming in and offering less and getting rooms.good luck with your planning.

lifer

 

[allie5]

I thought I would save a packet booking everything DIY, but thats not totally true. This year, we want a scheduled flight that has to be direct, so thats BA or Virgin. I had quotes ranging from £1732 to £2154 for the same fly drive option (18 days, Nov 04, 3 ads, 2 kids). The cheaper quote from Expedia doesnt allow for any changes to the booking, the next cheapest was Travel City whose BA flight prices were very reasonable, but they wont sell them without their fully inc car hire...£625 for 18 days!!!!!!!!!! Direct with Virgin were unsurprising the most expensive (even with our Frequent Virgin discount) but were fully flexible if we need to change dates.

Travelbag were dearer than Virgin, Opodo couldnt match the Expedia quote and the only other company I found (Charter Travel) DID offer a competitive quote (£1850), but Im still checking their credentials!!

We have booked a villa we have used before at really good rate, so its just the flight and car. Even with Travel City's extortionate car hire, it looks like their BA package will be our best option if Charter Travel look too iffy!!

This DIY thing isnt as easy as I thought it was going to be! If anyone has any other suggestions about who to try for Virgin / BA flights then please let us know!

Allie

 

[liferiley]

Originally posted by allie5
This year, we want a scheduled flight that has to be direct, so thats BA or Virgin. I had quotes ranging from £1732 to £2154 for the same fly drive option (18 days, Nov 04, 3 ads, 2 kids). The cheaper quote from Expedia doesnt allow for any changes to the booking, the next cheapest was Travel City whose BA flight prices were very reasonable, but they wont sell them without their fully inc car hire...£625 for 18 days!!!!!!!!!! Direct with Virgin were unsurprising the most expensive (even with our Frequent Virgin discount) but were fully flexible if we need to change dates.

the flight prices seem pretty reasonable,i paid £900 for 2ad.1 child and there indirect(we wanted indirect cos the kid doesnt like long flights).i know i could have got them cheaper if id have waited a little longer,but i also booked a cruise that went up in price so i think i got the best of both worlds.

 

[mmtdevlin]

virgin's advance reserv. team quoted me £1800 for 2 adults and 2 children (10&5) for flydrive price in May 2005 ........ however at the minute, the flight though virgin atlantic web site going up as far as March 05, is working out flight only £1336 inc. all taxes for all of us! Thats saving over £400 as we wouldn't be using carhire anyhow.

Martina